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(No Model.)

v E.T.BATES. MUFFLER FOR SIGNAL BELLS.

No. 400,821. Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

UNITED STATES EDWARD T. BATES, OF BRIGHTWOOD, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR PATENT OFFICE.

OF ONE-HALF TO HELVILLE LINDSAY, OF SAME PLACE.

MUFFLE-R FOR SlGNAL-BELLS..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,821, dated April 2, 1889.

Application filed July 13, 1888- Serial No. 279,805. (No model.)

To azz whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bright- Wood, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mufflers for Signal-Bells; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to signal-bells, and has for its object the production of a means for modifying the sharp ringing sound produced by the bell. Persons who are required to have a signal-bell in the room and in close proximity to where they are employed are greatly annoyed by the sharp sound of the bell. It is my purpose to so modify the tone of a bell as to relieve the ear and not impair the utility of the bell.

The invention will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a signal-bell with my invention applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the muflier, and Fig. 3 is avertical section of the muffler shown applied to the hammer of a bell.

Reference being had to the drawings and the letters thereon, A indicates a signal-bell, which may be of any approved kind and for any purpose, and may be operated in any mannersuch as mechanically, pneumatically, electrically, or by any desired means.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown the bell-hammer B operated by a rod having a rack, to, in its upper surface, with which the short arm Z) of the lever O, supporting the hammer, engages. The hammer B is surrounded by a muffler, D, made of india-rubber of various thicknesses to suit the size and kind of bell to which it is to be applied. In small bells the rubber must be very thin to prevent the utility of the bell being destroyed, and its thickness can he graduated in proportion to the size of the bell and its hammer and the power of the medium used for striking the bell.

In cases of illness the door-bell frequently becomes a source of great annoyance to the sufferer, and various means are resorted to to muffle the bell. The muffler D meets the requirements of the case and provides a ready means for accomplishing the result desired. The muffler is contracted at its end 0, and secures itself in position by its elasticity. It may be made of various shapes to suit different styles of hammers, and may be made up in quantities, packed in boxes, and sold to the trade as an article of manufacture.

I do not wish to confine myself to the use of rubber, as the muffler may be made of buck or chamois skin or other suitable material. Rubber is, however, preferred, for the reason that its elasticity enables it to be stretched over the bell-hammer, and it requires no other appliance to secure it in place.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim is- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a hollow flexible muffler conforming in its configuration to that of a bell-hammer, adapted to cover said hammer and to be retained in position by adhesion.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a hollow and elastic muffler having the configuration of a bell-hammer, contracted atone end and adapted to be retained in position by its own elasticity, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWD. T. BATES. Witnesses:

MELVILLE LINDSAY, D. O. REINOHL. 

